Practical Preparedness...

Only a few weeks ago, these were the weather warnings appearing for the Midwest...

"Destructive thunderstorms carrying a punch with gusts of 80-mph will pepper residents with significant power outages left in their wake."

"Potentially destructive thunderstorms will be the center of weather chatter.Dangerous, even record-setting, heat will remain a daily battle for the Eastern U.S. for the next few days."

If you read my last post, you'll remember the tale of our vacation and the storms that caused so much damage. It's still hard to imagine 3 million people were without power.

After that incredible storm, we decided it was time to double-check our food & water storage, and rethink our emergency preparedness supplies. I also decided it would be a good idea to have a frequent post and share some ideas...things we've learned along the way, what works (and hasn't worked) for us, and ask you to share your ideas as well.

So today is the first post for Practical Preparedness...

Emergency Water Purification

One of the biggest needs when an emergency hits is the need for safe drinking water; however, making water safe for your family is truly quick & easy.

Boiling is the best way to purify water. Bring it to a rolling boil and keep it boiling hard for one minute. Add one minute of boiling time for each 1,000 feet above sea level.

Unscented liquid bleach will kill bacteria and also provide you with pure drinking water in 5 simple steps.

1- pour water in a clean container, allowing particles to settle to the bottom

2- pour clear water into a clean container; use an eyedropper to add liquid bleach, following these guidelines...2 drops for one quart of water, 8 drops for one gallon of water, 1/2 teaspoon for 5 gallons of water

3- mix well

4- wait 30 minutes...water should have a slight bleach odor

5- if there is no bleach odor, repeat dose, wait 15 minutes

Keep an eyedropper taped to your bottle of bleach, along with the guidelines above, and it will always be at your fingertips should you need it. Bottles should be replaced every 3 months to ensure the bleach is at full strength. For some terrific information from the EPA, click here.

I hope this information is helpful...and if you have any hints or how-to's to share, please feel free to leave a comment. We can all learn from one another!

Mary is a Midwest farmgirl who enjoys the simple pleasures of living in the country. "For us, living where there is plenty of room for gardens, animals, and for kids to play and explore is the best kind of life." You can visit Windy Meadows Farm at www.windymeadowsfarm.blogspot.com.

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